Lightning Strike Survivor's Family Attributes Her Survival to Rubber-Soled Dr. Martens
Images: Dr. Martens, VC Star, Threshold Giving
California student Amber Escudero-Kontostathis, who was celebrating her 28th birthday, was the lone survivor of a deadly lightning strike that killed three near the White House last week. A Wisconsin couple in their mid 70’s, James and Donna Mueller, who were celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary, and 29-year-old LA banker Brooks Lambertson tragically lost their lives from the lightning strike that Thursday, August 4. The group sought shelter under a large tree as the storm raged on, and lightning struck six times at their location in Lafayette Square around 6:50pm, in the ‘immediate vicinity’ of where the four victims were standing.
Now, Amber’s family is attributing her survival to the swift work of the responding medical team—as well as her Dr. Martens boots.
In a series of social media updates by Julie Escudero, Amber’s mother, she expressed her gratitude for the Secret Service team that saved Amber’s life, as well as the rubber-soled Dr. Martens shoes she was wearing. She believes that the thick rubber soles may have lessened the impact from the lightning that struck her daughter.
Amber, left, and her mother, Julie.
Julie Escudero posted that the doctors treating Amber now believe the lightning traveled up through her toes and out her left arm.
“The trauma doctor came up yesterday and said she’s an ‘absolute miracle,’” Julie said in an interview. “I’m pretty confident that my daughter is going to be walking out of this hospital.”
According to Indiana Electric Cooperatives, rubber soles can indeed protect you from electricity—but they must be pure rubber. Rubber soles will only protect you “if they are 100 percent pure rubber with no holes or tears,” says their website. “Typical cleaning gloves and shoes, which are made with rubber mixed with cheaper materials, aren’t going to protect you in an electrical encounter.” Dr. Martens sells certain boots specifically made with electrical workers in mind, constructed with soles containing inorganic rubber.
Despite her family’s post, the National Lightning Safety Council tweeted that the shoes likely didn’t impact her chance of survival, saying that what helped her was the “immediate first aid given by the Secret Service and Park Police. Rubber soles don’t protect you from lightning.”
Amber’s fight to survive isn’t over yet, as the young Californian has expressed survivor’s guilt to her family during recovery. Amber suffered burns on down the left side of her body, Over $53,000 has been raised so far for Amber’s rising medical bills; click here to donate, and watch CBS’ coverage of the event down below.